Chair to be named within the coming days; Magalong to function adviser
MANILA, Philippines — A former public works chief and a prime government of a number one skilled companies agency have been named members of the panel fashioned by President Marcos to probe anomalies in flood management initiatives, whereas a mayor who has vowed to reveal alleged corrupt actions of some lawmakers will function its particular adviser.
Rogelio Singson, who served as public works chief in the course of the Aquino administration, and Rossana Fajardo, SGV & Co. nation managing associate, will likely be a part of the three-person Unbiased Fee for Infrastructure (ICI), Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro introduced yesterday.
Baguio Metropolis Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who lately claimed that at the very least 67 legislators have been utilizing contractors as “fronts” for flood management initiatives, has been named particular adviser and investigator for the fee.
Marcos is anticipated to announce the chairman of the unbiased physique inside the week.
“The President has appointed people of confirmed competence, integrity and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance and institutional reform,” Castro mentioned at a press briefing at Malacañang.
“They voluntarily accepted the duty. They weren’t appointed to guard the system, however to face it. Each has a protracted expertise in figuring out issues inside establishments and in implementing reforms in big organizations,” she added.
Castro vouched for the independence of the panel members, saying none of them is related to any company or contractor being investigated.
The ICI, created by way of Govt Order No. 94, covers flood management and different infrastructure initiatives undertaken within the final 10 years. The fee’s powers and features embody gathering and assessing proof and reviews in opposition to authorities officers and personnel tagged in irregularities, conducting hearings, taking testimonies and recommending the freezing or seizure of property fairly believed to be tied to anomalous initiatives.
Castro declined to supply a timeline for the investigation, saying the ICI needs to be given the chance to review all paperwork for the attainable submitting of instances.
“The timeline right here is immediate and speedy execution. It will be higher whether it is completed inside a number of months,” she mentioned.
Specialists tapped
In response to Castro, Singson would convey with him many years of direct expertise in planning and executing main authorities infrastructure initiatives.
As secretary of the Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), he led probably the most vital reform efforts within the company’s historical past – introducing techniques to advertise transparency, remove ghost initiatives and guarantee correct use of public funds, the Palace press officer mentioned.
“His technical understanding of how initiatives are designed, procured and applied will likely be important to this fee’s work.”
She additionally famous Singson’s stint as chief of the Bases Conversion and Growth Authority, the place he managed large-scale land infrastructure growth.
Fajardo, in the meantime, is a licensed public accountant with over three many years of expertise in auditing, web controls and threat administration, together with figuring out weaknesses in monetary techniques and operational processes. The nation supervisor of the Philippines’ largest skilled companies agency has labored throughout each private and non-private sectors to assist organizations discover fraud, improve governance and construct extra accountable establishments.
Based mostly on her LinkedIn account, Fajardo has held a number of key management positions inside SGV and EY ASEAN Enterprise, together with SGV Consulting Chief, Philippine IT Danger and Assurance Chief, Philippine Efficiency Enchancment Chief, EY ASEAN Regional Advisory High quality Chief, EY ASEAN Advisory Chief Working Officer and a member of the Asia-Pacific Advisory Management Crew.
She accomplished the Govt MBA Program on the Asian Institute of Administration, the Ernst & Younger Kellogg Account Management Program on the Kellogg Faculty of Administration, Northwestern College and the Strategic Account Administration Program on the London Enterprise Faculty. She graduated cum laude with a level in Accounting from the College of St. La Salle in Bacolod.
“Her technical perception and monetary acumen are crucial in following the path of public funds and figuring out the place leakages and irregularities could have occurred,” Castro mentioned.
As for Magalong, Castro mentioned the mayor utilized strict requirements of transparency and accountability in native governance. The mayor was a profession regulation enforcement officer who had led the Philippine Nationwide Police Prison Investigation and Detection Group.
“His expertise in main tough investigations, uncovering inner wrongdoing and implementing compliance makes him a robust asset to this fee,” Castro mentioned.
In a latest interview, Marcos mentioned there can be no politicians within the flood management initiatives fee to make sure its independence. Requested about Magalong’s involvement within the ICI, Castro clarified that the mayor is just not a member of the panel, however will act as a particular adviser. Magalong could transmit no matter info he’ll collect to the ICI, she added.
No sacred cows
Looked for touch upon Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s linking of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan to a contractor from Bulacan, Castro reiterated that nobody can be spared from the investigation on the flood management initiatives controversy.
“(The President) is already conscious of it as a result of it has been reported by (DPWH) Sec. Vince Dizon. As we mentioned earlier, no mates, no allies, no kin. Everybody who needs to be investigated will likely be investigated,” Castro mentioned.
Lacson had linked Bonoan to Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Rene Maglanque, whose Globalcrete Builders allegedly bagged greater than P2 billion value of flood management initiatives from 2018 to 2024.
The senator had additionally alleged that Maglanque collectively owns MBB International Properties Corp., with the household of Bonoan.
“Like what the President repeatedly mentioned, nobody will likely be spared, not even kin, mates or allies. There will likely be no sacred cows,” Castro mentioned.
Requested to react to the indignation rallies scheduled for Sept. 21, Castro mentioned public sentiments in opposition to corruption shouldn’t be exploited by those that search to destabilize the federal government.
“To begin with, the President will at all times respect this freedom of expression. So no matter sentiment felt by our countrymen proper now’s revered by the President. Our prayer is that these sentiments won’t be exploited by individuals with sick intentions for the federal government and people who search to destabilize,” she mentioned. “The President helps the expression of considerations by our countrymen as a result of it’s in opposition to corruption.”
The Church Leaders Council for Nationwide Transformation will maintain a “Trillion Peso March” on Sept. 21 at EDSA to sentence what it described as “blatant” corruption destroying flood management initiatives. The rally will coincide with the commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Legislation by the President’s late father and namesake.
Reacting to the designation of ICI members, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon mentioned he’s cautious of the appointment of Magalong as adviser to the probe physique.
“We respect the choice of the President to nominate Baguio metropolis Mayor Benjamin Magalong as particular adviser to the ICI. Nonetheless, the ICI ought to pay attention to Mayor Magalong’s earlier public statements on alleged infrastructure and flood management corruption, and decide whether or not his participation in sure instances could warrant inhibition to keep away from any look of prejudgment,” Ridon, co-chairman of the infra-committee of the Home of Representatives, mentioned yesterday. He didn’t elaborate.
“We’ve confidence of their competence and integrity to hold out the essential activity of investigating corruption in infrastructure and flood management initiatives, introducing significant reforms in public works and making certain that perpetrators of corruption are held accountable,” Ridon mentioned. — Jose Rodel Clapano